It is chiefly in the northern parts of Finland, or rather in Lapland, that the ancient Finnish language is hearcl. Along the gull's of Finland and Bothnia, the Swedish lan guage prevails in the towns ; and the peasantry speak a mixed dialect of both tongues. The Fins were subjugated by Eric IX. King of Sweden, and converted to the Chris tian faith in 1156 ; and front that period, literature, espe cially poetry, began to be more generally cultivated among them. The verse which they employ is called Runic, in which the lines consist of eight syllables, a long and a short in succession; but instead of terminating in rhymes, they begin with alliteration, having at least two or more words which agree in the same letter or sound, as in the following specimen : These Runic verses are rarely committed to the press, or even to writing, but arc chiefly transmitted by oral communication ; and cone arc found of an earlier date than the era of the Reformation.
In inland districts, the peasantry are much addicted to this species of composition ; and many of them, unaided by education, are capable of producing these verses on ordinary subjects, sometimes in a great measure extempore. The recitation or composition of such songs, sometimes accompanied with the harp, forms one of the most frequent amusements of the country people at fairs and private meetings. On these occasions, the reciter or poet stands in the midst of a circle of auditors, and having sung or delivered one line, a coadjutor, taking up the last word, or the last but one, finishes the line along with him, and then repeats it alone ; which gives the speaker time to recollect or compose the succeeding line, which he then sings, and his assistant repeats in like manner, until the poem is ended.
The Finnish language abounds in proverbs, bearing much resemblance in their form to those of Solomon, and generally expressive of sound sense and acute remark. They are mostly in Runic or alliterative verse, and divi ed into two hemistichs, the latter of which contains an illustration of the former. " A good man spateth from his peck, but the wicked will not give from a bushel."— "The wise man knoweth what he shall do, but fools try every thing."—" The work is ended which is begun ; there is time lost to say, what shall I do ?"—" The tool of the industrious man is sharp, but the plough-share of the fool wanteth grinding." The inhabitants of Finland are not less sensible to the influence of music ; hut, owing probably to the imperfec tion of their national instrument, they have not made much progress in the art. Their native instrument, the harpu, consists of five strings or chords of metal, each of which sounds a distinct note, a, 6, c, d, e, and within the com pass of these five notes, the whole of their music is con fined. But the violin has been introduced in later times ; and the music of the Finlanders is beginning to acquire a more varied character.
Their dancing consists in the most rustic jumping, without any variety of step or motion, except alternately laying the arms over each other ; and the whole exercise is performed with sufficient vigour, but with entire gravity, and most unexpressive countenances.
The houses in Finland, and frequently even the churches and other public edifices, are constructed of wood, gene rally painted red ; but they are nevertheless sufficiently warm, and sometimes too much so for the feelings of those, who are not accustomed to a close atmosphere. The habitations of the peasants are well built, and afford com plete protection from the severity of the winter cold ; and, notwithstanding the long duration of that season, and the seeming sterility of the soil, the people are in many res pects better provided than the same class in more southern regions. They can generally set before the traveller at least fresh and curdled milk, salt herrings, or a little salt meat; and they are rich in all that they consider as con stituting the enjoyments of life. If at any time they have more money than their immediate wants require, they either lay it up for future emergencies, or convert it into some domestic utensil; and it is not uncommon in a small wooden dwelling, to see the water presented in a silver vessel of the value of 50 or 60 rixdollars. The women are warmly clothed, and above their other garments wear a large linen shift, which gives them the appearance of being in an undress. In the house, the men generally throw off their coat, and even in that manner perform their ordinary labours in the open air ; but when they go out to a greater distance in the winter season, they wear a kind of short coat made of calf-skin, or a woollen surtout, fastened round the middle with a girdle ; and pull over their boots coarse woollen stockings, both for warmth and for safer walking on the ice. Most of the peasants have a small house for the purpose of taking a warm bath, which is done in the following manner. A number of stones in the innermost part of the chamber are heated by fire ti!: they become red ; and water being thrown upon them in this state, the bathers are involved in a cloud of thick vapour, in an atmosphere of 70 or 75 degrees of Celsius. In this heated and oppressive air, they remain naked for the space of half an hour, or even a whole hour, rubbing their bodies, or lashing them with bunches of twigs; and frequently go out without any covering to the open air, or even roll themselves in the snow, when the degree of cold is 20° or 30° below zero ; thus making au instantaneous transition of 100 degrees, which is almost equivalent to a passage from boiling to freezing water. This practice, they affirm, has a most invigorating effect upon their frames, and recruits their strength as much as rest or sleep.